West Ham enforcer Mohamed Diame is also being considered by the north London club as manager Andre Villas-Boas targets a defensive midfielder to replace Sandro and boost his side's top four ambitions.

Spurs are long-term admirers of M'Vila and made contact last summer with Rennes over a potential deal for the France international, who has been the subject of a £6.2 million bid from relegation-threatened QPR.

Rennes are keen to sell the 22-year-old this month and Tottenham could swoop in to snatch M'Vila from QPR's grasp, with the player reluctant to move to Loftus Road having previously been courted by some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Fulham and Rubin Kazan are also tracking M'Vila's situation and reports in France have suggested that the Russian club are close to an agreement after holding talks with Rennes and the player's representatives on Thursday.

Interest is high in the Frenchman despite a rocky six months months in which the French Football Federation handed him an international ban until June 2014 after he spent an unauthorised night out with fellow under-21 players.

Harry Redknapp's QPR were considered favourites to land M'Vila earlier this week, but Rennes General Manager Pierre Dreossi stated that: "QPR's offers are not sufficient," leaving the door open for other interested parties.

Diame is also considered a potential option by Spurs as the Senegalese midfielder has a £3.5m release clause in his Hammers contract and is yet to sign a fresh deal on improved terms to stay at Upton Park.

In the meantime, Jake Livermore's proposed loan switch to QPR remains on hold as the Champions League hopefuls deal with the blow of losing Sandro for the rest of the season.

Spurs confirmed on Friday that the 23-year-old will miss the rest of the campaign after undergoing surgery this week on his right knee, having sustained cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus damage during last weekend’s goalless draw at QPR.

Holtby has already signed a pre-contract agreement with Spurs but could join in the January window in a £1.6m deal as chairman Daniel Levy prepares to concede defeat in his pursuit of Porto star Joao Moutinho.